IND in SL, Second ODI: Teams seek perfect formula to crack the finishing code

India tour of Sri lanka: Sri Lanka vs India second ODI in Colombo on August 4, 2024.

It is often said, ‘Lightning never strikes twice’. India and Sri Lanka, though, seem to be on a mission to prove it wrong after playing their second tied encounter in as many games – albeit in different formats. In the third and final T20I in Pallekele, the Lankans made a mess of a small chase, tied a game they should have won, and eventually lost in the Super Over.

On August 2, India returned the favour in the first One-Day International, failing to score one run despite having two wickets and 14 balls before being bowled out.

When the two sides square off against each other for the second One-Day International at the R. Premadasa International Stadium on Sunday, the focus will be on being more clinical in closing out the match and not allowing the opposition a chance to get back into the contest.

The pitch for the first game aided spinners considerably, and once the ball became soft, boundaries were hard to come by. It remains to be seen if the strip for Sunday’s game will be drastically different.

The Indian bowlers were largely impressive, and skipper Rohit Sharma showed no signs of rustiness on his return to ODIs for the first time since the heartbreaking defeat in the World Cup final against Australia last November.

He continued from where he left off in that tournament by being aggressive in the PowerPlay.

The first ODI also gave a glimpse of what the team is looking to build under new coach Gautam Gambhir. The penchant for having more than a few left-handed batters was visible, with Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube forming the core of the middle order.